WO2000023827A1

WO2000023827A1 - Two-plane rear view safety mirror

Info

Publication number: WO2000023827A1
Application number: PCT/US1999/024174
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joseph C. O'dea
Original assignee: O Dea Joseph C
Priority date: 1998-10-16
Filing date: 1999-10-15
Publication date: 2000-04-27
Also published as: WO2000023827A9; US6062699A

Abstract

A rearview safety mirror (202) includes a first single-planed mirror (204) and a second single-planed mirror (206). The first and second mirrors are mounted at angle. The planar mirror (206) is mounted at a steeper pitch than that of the planar mirror (204). The mirrors are mounted in a plastic housing (208).

Description

TWO-PLANE REAR VIEW SAFETY MIRROR

Field of Invention

The present invention relates generally to vehicle safety devices and

methods. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for improving the field of view of rear view mirrors to operators of motor vehicles.

Background of the Invention

Conventional rear view mirrors are single-planar mirrors. Such rear

view mirrors are deficient in revealing the well-known and serious problem

generally termed the "blind spot." Referring to FIG. 1, a motor vehicle 102

is illustrated travelling in a highway lane 103. Motor vehicle 102 has a

conventional externally-mounted left rear view mirror 104, a conventional

internally mounted center rear view mirror 106 and a conventional

externally-mounted right rear view mirror 108. Using rear view mirrors 104,

106 and 108, the operator of motor vehicle 102 has a field of view indicated

by field of view 110. However, this field of view does not include what is

known as the "blind spot" 112.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the blind spot can cover a significant area,

and often includes other motor vehicles traveling in adjacent highway lanes,

for example motor vehicle 114 traveling in lane llδ. Consequently, if the

operator of motor vehicle 102 change lanes from lane 103 to lane 115 after

checking only left rear view mirror 104, he may not see motor vehicle 114. Consequently, the lane change could result in an accident, sometimes

referred to as "blind siding."

The risk of this type of accident could be reduced significantly by

substantially eliminating the blind spot. Several prior apparatus attempted to solve the problem. Racecar drivers, for example, have attempted to

increase their competitive efficiency on a racetrack by adding lateral

extensions to their internally mounted center rear view mirror and angling

those extensions so that the left side extension gives a view to the right side

and the right side extension gives a view to the left side. For several reasons,

this solution has not met with general acceptance by the non-racing public.

First, there is significant occlusion of the required view by the structure of

the automobile, passengers, cargo and/or frosting or steaming up. Second,

there is often confusion because the added right side extension views the left

side of the vehicle and the added left extension views the right side of the

vehicle.

Another attempt to solve the problem has been employed by some

truckers. A small convex mirror is mounted on the conventional external flat

plane mirrors in an effort to somewhat enhance the rear view when backing

up, for example, backing up to loading docks. However, the small convex

mirror does not adequately cover the blind spot and significantly distorts the

reflected image and is therefore of no practical value in the normal driving

environment. The need of an operator to be able to view any vehicles approaching on the left and/or right sides of the vehicles is being exacerbated daily by the

development of more and more high-speed multi-laned highways because

passing on both the left and right sides of a vehicle is generally practiced.

The sound level of car radios and tapes often muffles the sound of overtaking

vehicles. Other distractions, including cellular telephones and other hi-tech

devices, further increase the risk of blind siding accidents caused by the

operator's inability to see or hear vehicles in the blind spot caused by

conventional rear view mirrors.

Thus, what is required is a rear view mirror configuration that

substantially reduces, or eliminates completely the blind spot associated with

conventional single-planed rear view mirrors. In addition, the rear view

mirror should be able to be easily mounted on a wide variety of motor

vehicles including, but not limited to: passenger vehicles, recreational

vehicles, vans, pick up trucks, panel trucks and motorcycles.

Summary of the Invention

The two-plane rear view safety mirror of the present invention

comprises two single-planed mirrors mounted at an angle to one another in a

single frame. This configuration substantially reduces or eliminates the

blind spot associated with conventional single-planed rear view mirrors.

Using the rear view safety mirror of the present invention therefore, allows

the operator of a motor vehicle to see vehicles that may be overtaking his on

either side. The preferred embodiment comprises two single-planed mirrors, an

outside mirror (furthest from the operator) and an inside mirror (closest to

the operator). The outside and inside mirrors are mounted at an angle to one

another. In addition, the inside mirror is mounted at a steeper pitch (i.e., the

top of the inside mirror is more toward the rear of the vehicle than its

bottom) than the outside mirror. The single-planed mirrors are preferably

placed in a one piece molded plastic housing having pockets or slots into

which the single planes mirrors are placed. The pockets or slots are at an

angle to one another. In the preferred embodiment, the angle is fixed. As

with conventional rear view mirrors, the entire assembly (housing including

single-planed mirrors mounted at an angle to each other) can be adjusted to

suit a particular operator. In an alternate embodiment, one or both of the

pockets (or slots) are independently adjustable so that the angle between the

single-planed mirrors can be varied, in addition to adjustment of the entire

assembly.

In the preferred embodiment, the relative size of the outside single-

planed mirror is of sufficient size so that the operator has substantially the

same field of view as that given by conventional rear view mirrors. However,

unlike conventional rear view mirrors, the rear view safety mirror of the

present invention substantially eliminates the view of the structure of the

side and rear of the vehicle on which it is mounted, because that portion of

the image has little or no value to the operator of the vehicle. This portion is

used by the present invention for the inside mirror, which reflects the blind spot image that is hidden from the operator's view in conventional rear view mirrors. Thus, the inside mirror preferably has a size corresponding to the

portion of a conventional rear view mirror that reflects the vehicular

structure. Preferably, this size is about 30% of the viewing area of a

conventional rear view mirror. This can be changed by the manufacturer

within the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Although the single-planed mirrors of both the left and the right rear

view safety mirrors of the present invention can have substantially the same

dimensions, in the preferred embodiment they do not. The sizes of the

single-planed mirrors in of the right rear view safety mirror are adjusted to

account for the fact that the operator of the vehicle is further from the right

rear view safety mirror than the left rear view safety mirror.

As described above, the two-plane rear view safety mirror of the

present invention affords the operator of a motor vehicle substantially the

optimum conventional view to the rear of the single plane mirror and in

addition a simultaneous second view which covers the blind spot between the

reflected image of the single plane mirror and the operator's lateral vision.

The right two-plane rear view safety mirror affords a comparable range of

vision on the right side of the vehicle.

These and other objects of the present invention are described in

greater detail in the detailed description of the invention, the appended

drawings and the attached claims. Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the field of view of a conventional

rear view mirror, and its associated blind spot.

FIG. 2A is a schematic illustration of a front view of the left side rear

view safety mirror according to a preferred embodiment of the present

invention.

FIG. 2B is a cross-section of the rear view safety mirror illustrated in

FIG. 1 taken along line A-A in FIG. 2A

FIG. 3A is a schematic illustration of a front view of the right side rear

view safety mirror according to a preferred embodiment of the present

invention.

FIG. 3B is a cross-section of the rear view safety mirror illustrated in

FIG. 1 taken along line B-B in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4 illustrates schematically a left rear view safety mirror

according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention mounted in a

motor vehicle.

FIG. 5A illustrates schematically a side view of a conventional

mounting for use with the present invention.

FIG. 5B illustrates schematically a facial view of a conventional

mounting for use with the present invention.

FIG. 5C illustrates schematically an overhead view of a conventional

mounting for use with the present invention. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The two-plane mirror of the present invention provides a simple, safe

readily usable system to substantially preserve the optimum view to the

rear, and in addition, a ready view of the blind spot area not reflected in

conventional single-planar rear view mirrors. In this way the operator of a

motor vehicle equipped with a rear view safety mirror of the present

invention has a view of an overtaking vehicle at all times until the

overtaking vehicles is abreast of and in the direct sight of the operator's

lateral vision.

The present invention is described in terms of a "left-hand drive"

vehicle. A left-hand drive vehicle is one in which the driving controls are

located on the left hand side of the vehicle. The present invention is

applicable to "right hand drive" vehicles (i.e., those having driving controls on

the right side of the vehicle). For right hand drive vehicles, the ensuing

description of the left and right rear view safety mirrors should be reversed.

That is, the ensuing description of the left rear view safety mirror describes

the right rear view safety mirror in a right hand drive vehicle, and similarly,

the description of the right rear view safety mirror describes the left rear

view safety mirror of a right hand drive vehicle.

Further, the present invention is applicable to vehicles having

centrally located operators, e.g., motorcycles and bicycles. In this case, both

mirrors are substantially the same. In a preferred embodiment, either the left or right rear view safety mirror as described below can be used on both

sides of the vehicle.

The preferred embodiment of the two-plane mirror of the present

invention has two planes, and is referred to as a two-plane rear view safety

mirror. Referring to FIGs. 2 A and 2B, a left side rear view mirror 202

according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is described.

The left side rear view mirror 202 has a first (outside) plane 204 and a

second (inside) plane 206. Each plane is a single-planed mirror, the construction of which is well-known to those skilled in the art. Planar

mirrors 204 and 206 are housed in a housing or frame 208. Preferably

housing 208 is a plastic housing having pockets or slots into which planar

mirrors 204 and 206 are mounted. Alternatively, planar mirrors 204 and 206

can be mounted to housing 208 using an adhesive. Such mounting

techniques and others are well-known to those skilled in the art.

Housing 208 itself can be mounted in a conventional way to a motor

vehicle using a conventional connecting mechanism. In this manner, the

entire housing can be adjusted as is done conventionally, and is therefore

familiar to vehicle operator's. In addition, because the housing is mounted in

a conventional way, the rear view safety mirror of the present invention can

be sold as a retrofit to an existing vehicle by, for example, an after-market

manufacturer, and installed by, for example, a mechanic or other person

skilled in the art. In the preferred embodiment left hand rear view mirror 202, planar

mirrors 204 and 206 are mounted at an angle to one another. The angle is

formed about angle line 207. In the preferred embodiment, the angle is

approximately 15 degrees. However, other angles are possible and can be

used within the scope and spirit of the present invention.

In addition, planar mirror 206 is preferably mounted at a steeper pitch

that planar mirror 204. That is, planar mirror 206 is mounted so that its top

is more toward the rear of the vehicle than its bottom, and at a steeper than

any angle at which planar mirror 204 might be tilted. Referring to Fig. 2,

this steeper pitch is formed by rotating planar mirror 206 about pivot point

210. In the preferred embodiment, planar mirror 206 is mounted so that is

approximately 1.7 degrees greater in pitch than planar mirror 204.

Further, in an alternate embodiment, one or both of planar mirrors

204 and 206 can be independently adjusted by the operator. Allowing the

operator to adjust the angle, provides the operator with a way to customize

the angle to his or her desires. Constructing a housing containing

independently adjustable slots or pockets is well-known to those skilled in

the art.

FIGs. 3A and 3B illustrate schematically a right side rear view safety

mirror 302 according to preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGs. 3A and 3B, right side rear view mirror 302 according to a

preferred embodiment of the present invention is described. Like left side

rear view safety mirror 202, right side rear view safety mirror 302 has a first (outside) plane mirror 304 and a second (inside) plane mirror 306. Each plane is a single-planed mirror, the construction of which is well-known to

those skilled in the art. Planar mirrors 304 and 306 are housed in a housing

or frame 308. Preferably, housing 308 is a plastic housing having pockets or

slots into which planar mirrors 304 and 306 are mounted. Alternatively, planar mirrors 304 and 306 can be mounted to housing 308 using an

adhesive. Such mounting techniques and others are well-known to those

skilled in the art.

As described above with respect to right side rear view safety mirror

302, housing 308 itself can be mounted in a conventional way to a motor

vehicle. In this manner, the entire housing can be adjusted as is done

conventionally, and is therefore familiar to vehicle operator's. In addition,

because the housing is mounted in a conventional way, the rear view safety

mirror of the present invention can be sold as a retrofit to an existing vehicle

by, for example, an after-market manufacturer, and installed by, for

example, a mechanic or other person skilled in the art.

In the preferred embodiment right hand rear view mirror 302, planar

mirrors 304 and 306 are mounted at an angle to one another. The angle is

formed about angle line 307. In the preferred embodiment, the angle is

approximately 22 degrees. However, other angles are possible and can be

used within the scope and spirit of the present invention.

In addition, planar mirror 306 is preferably mounted at a steeper pitch

that planar mirror 304. That is, planar mirror 306 is mounted so that its top is more toward the rear of the vehicle than its bottom, and at a steeper than any angle at which planar mirror 304 might be tilted. Referring to Fig. 3,

this steeper pitch is formed by rotating planar mirror 306 about pivot point

310. In the preferred embodiment, planar mirror 306 is mounted so that is

approximately 5 degrees greater in pitch than planar mirror 304.

Further, in an alternate embodiment, one or both of planar mirrors

304 and 306 can be independently adjusted by the operator. Allowing the

operator to adjust the angle, provides the operator with a way to customize

the angle to his or her desires. Constructing a housing containing

independently adjustable slots or pockets is well-known to those skilled in the art.

Right hand rear view mirror 302 can be substantially similar to left

hand rear view safety mirror 202 described above. However, in the preferred

embodiment, the dimensions of the inside and outside planar mirrors of the

right hand rear view safety mirror differ from those of the left hand rear

view safety mirror. The reason for this is that the geometry of the operator's

line of sight to the right rear veiw safety mirror differes from that to the left

rear view safety mirror.

The operator is significantly closer to the left hand rear view safety

mirror than the right hand rear view safety mirror. As a result, the field of

view for the right and left side safety mirrors differs from the operator's

viewpoint. When adjusted for optimum view, this geometry causes a

conventional right side single plane mirror to have a view with a slightly wider portion of the reflected image devoted to the side of the vehicle than is observed on the left side of the vehicle when adjusted for optimum rear view.

In addition, the angle between the single-planed mirrors is preferably more

acute for the right side rear view safety mirror than the left side rear view

safety mirror. As a result, in the preferred embodiment of the present

invention, the inside mirror of the right hand rear view safety mirror is slightly wider than the inside mirror of the left hand rear view safety mirror.

In embodiments of the present invention having adjustable planar

mirrors, the dimensions can be changed, and the operator can adjust the

angle as desired.

In motorcycles, and other vehicles having a centrally located operator,

the dimensions of and included angle between the inside and outside planar

mirrors are substantially the same in both the left and right rear view safety

mirrors. In embodiments of the present invention having adjustable

capabilities, the angle may vary in accordance with the desires of the

operator.

The angle between the two single-planar sufaces of the mirrors of the

rear view safety mirror of the present invention, as well as the total and

relative sizes of the two planes is a manufacturing design choice. These

parameters are determined by each manufacturer to accommodate for the

design of individual models.

FIG. 4 illustrates schematically a left rear view safety mirror

according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention mounted in a motor vehicle. Referring to FIG. 4, vehicle 402, traveling in lane 403, is equipped with a rear view safety mirror 404 according to a preferred

embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, rear view safety

mirror 404 extends the field of view for an operator of vehicle 402 as

indicated by area 406. Area 406 is in the blind spot of a conventional rear

view mirror, but is reflected in the image of a rear view safety mirror of the

present invention. As a result, the operator of vehicle 402 can see an

overtaking vehicle, such as vehicle 408, traveling in lane 409. As further

shown in FIG. 4, area 406 extends substantially forward to where the

operator of vehicle 402 can see vehicle 408 in his lateral vision.

As described the rear view safety mirror of the present invention can

be mounted to a vehicle in a conventional manner. Because the mounting to

the vehicle is well-known to those skilled in the art, it will only be described

briefly. Referring to FIG. 5A, a side view of a conventional mounting 501 for

use with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated

schematically. Frame 502 is representative of the frame of the rear view

mirror of the present invention, for example frames 202 and 302. The plastic

molding of frame 502 includes a clip or clasp 504. Clip 504 has a stop 506 on

each side to limit the lateral movement of the spindle. Clip 504 attaches to a

lateral arm 508 of a metal cross-spindle 510. Frame 502 rotates up and

down about lateral arm 508 of cross-spindle 510. Cross-spindle 510 also

includes a vertical arm 512. Vertical arm 512 attaches to a control mechanism that controls adjustment of the frame 502. Frame 502 rotates

side-to-side about vertical arm 512 of cross-spindle 510.

FIGs. 5B illustrates schematically a facial view of the conventional

mounting mechanism. As shown in FIG. 5B, frame 502 contains two

receptors 514 and 516. Receptors are sockets into which adjustment control

actuators are placed. The control actuators inserted into receptor 514

controls lateral adjustment. The control actuator inserted into receptor 516

control vertical adjustment. FIG. 5C illustrates schematically an overhead

view of conventional mounting 501. The foregoing description of mounting

501 describes one possible mounting configuration for mounting the rear

view safety mirror of the present invention to a vehicle. It would be apparent to those skilled in the art that there are a variety of other adjustment

mounting configurations can be used within the scope and spirit of the

present invention.

The foregoing disclosure of embodiments of the present invention has

been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended

to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed.

Many variations and modifications of the embodiments described herein will

be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the above disclosure.

The scope of the invention is to be defined only by the claims appended

hereto, and by their equivalents.

Claims

WH at is Claimed is:

1. A rear view safety mirror, comprising:

a first planar mirror having a first dimension;

a second planar mirror having a second dimension; and

a housing into which said first and second planar mirrors are mounted

at an angle relative to one another, so as to substantially eliminate a blind spot.

2. The rear view safety mirror recited in claim 1, wherein said housing

has a first pocket into which said first mirror is placed and a second pocket

into which said second mirror is placed, wherein said first and second

pockets form said angle.

3. The rear view safety mirror recited in claim 1, wherein said housing

has a first slot into which said first mirror is placed and a second slot into

which said second mirror is placed, wherein said first and second pockets

form said angle.

4. The rear view mirror of claim 1 wherein said first mirror is steeper in

pitch than said second mirror.

5. The rear view mirror of claim 4 wherein said housing has a first

pocket into which said first mirror is placed and a second pocket into which

said second mirror is placed, wherein said first and second pockets form said

angle and said first pocket provides said steeper pitch.

6. The rear view safety mirror recited in claim 1, wherein said first

dimension substantially coincides with a portion of a conventional rear view mirror that reflects the rear portion and structure of a vehicle to which it is attached.

7. The rear view safety mirror recited in claim 1, wherein said housing is

attached to a vehicle in a conventional manner.

8. A method for reducing a blind spot caused by a rear view mirror,

comprising the steps of: mounting a first mirror having a first dimension in a first portion of a

housing; and

mounting a second mirror having a second dimension in a second

portion of said housing at an angle relative to said first mirror so as to

substantially eliminate a blind spot.

9. The rear view safety mirror recited in claim 6, further comprising the

step of mounting said housing to a vehicle in a conventional manner.

10. The rear view safety mirror recited in claim 6, further comprising the

step of choosing said first dimension such that it substantially coincides with

a portion of a conventional rear view mirror that reflects the rear portion and

structure of a vehicle to which it is attached.

11. A rear view mirror safety system for eliminating a blind spot

comprising:

a left side rear view mirror, comprising:

a first housing;

a first planar mirror having a first dimension mounted in said

first housing; and a second planar mirror having a second dimension mounted in said first housing at a first angle to said first planar mirror; and

a right side rear view mirror, comprising:

a second housing; a third planar mirror having a third dimension mounted in said

second housing; and a fourth planar mirror having a fourth dimension mounted in

said second housing at a second angle to said first planar mirror;

12. The rear view mirror safety recited in claim 9, wherein said first and

third dimensions are substantially equal, and said second and fourth

dimensions are substantially equal.

13. The rear view mirror safety system recited in claim 10, wherein said

first and second angles are substantially equal.

14. The rear view mirror safety system recited in claim 9, wherein said

second angle is more acute than said first angle.

15. The rear view mirror system of claim 11, wherein said first mirror is

steeper in pitch than said second mirror and said third mirror is steeper in

pitch than said fourth mirror.